Preliminary Testing for the Potential Anti-Fungal Activity of Ganoderma lucidum (W. Cut.:Fr.) Karts

Abstract

The study was conducted to test for the potential anti-fungal activity of Ganoderma lucidum crude extracts. These were obtained from air-dried fruiting bodies using 90% methanol. Anti-fungal activity was determined by measuring the diameter of radial growth and the degree of sporulation of the tst fungi seven days after incubation (DAI), in comparison with the commercial fungicide Dithane. The extracts significantly decrease the diameter of radial growth in Fusarium moniliforme and increased the degree of sporulation in Trichoderma reesei. No significant differences in these parameters were observed in Apergillus niger. It is possible that sperulation in T. reesei was stimulated by stress in the form of nutrient depletion caused by the G. lucidum crude extracts. Sporulation was not observed macroscopically in F. moniliforme. However, the effect of the G. lucidum extract was similar to that of Dithane in that both treatments gave the fungal mat a dark orange color. This could be due to the production of secondary metabolites, which are possible indicators of cessation of growth due to nturient depletion. A. niger, on the other hand, being a non-fastidious fungus, is able to sporulate under conditions where there is enough glucose, but both Dithane and the G. lucidum extract have not shown an anti-fungal activity against it.